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Tag: disciple (Page 5 of 29)

It’s Not What They Told Me

August 9, 2024 / / 2 Comments

From the time I was in 6th grade it’s all I wanted to do. Most boys at that age wanted to save the world by being police officers or fire fighters or even join the military. Not me. I didn’t see myself fitting those roles. For me all I ever wanted to do was what I do right now. But all too often it’s not what I was told it would be.

Many joke about it being nice to only work one day a week. Others sit back curiously wondering what it is that I really do. Still others really just don’t care as long as Sunday goes ok and I’m there when their emergency hits. But all too often it’s not what I was told it would be.

No one told me the weight I would have to carry. No one told me the microscope people would put me under. No one told me that real, caring, life-giving friendships would be hard to find, if not downright impossible at times. No one told me how much it would hurt some days, only how rewarding others would be.

You see I knew that I would be there when the phone rang. I knew that I would be there when you were at your worst. I knew that I’d see some dark and somewhat terrifying things. But all too often it’s not what I was told it would be.

I’ll never forget the feeling of holding her hand while she struggled for her final breaths. Pushing down tears of my own because I cared for her more than I could let on. Swallowing hard so I could speak coherently to provide some form of comfort to you as you now say good bye, all the while saying goodbye quietly myself. This isn’t how I was told it would be.

I’ll never forget cleaning up after him when he thought there was no other way out. Seeing someone I cared about end it all that way and try to preserve his dignity by quietly carrying the demons that secretly broke him. This isn’t how I was told it would be.

I’ll never forget sitting there as you broke into so many pieces. I wanted to help put it together but I was powerless. All I could do was sit, pray, and be a shoulder you could cry on. This isn’t how I was told it would be.

I’ll never forget when in a moment of rage you threw the tissue box at me across my desk. You were angry with something or someone but I was the easiest target because I was there. Or the time I was belittled and cursed at for doing my job because you assumed my intent – all this by those who care and without apology nonetheless. This isn’t how I was told it would be.

I could list countless moments that caught me off guard. Relationships that broke fast enough to give anyone whiplash. I could gripe and moan and complain but that’s not who I am.

Some of you will think this is a cry for help, but it’s not that at all. Others will think he’s just being a baby stop complaining, but that’s not it either. The greater point is this. We’re people. It’s really that simple.

I talk to a lot of pastors in my role these days and there’s so much hurt that could be avoided. Offenses given but no apology offered. Those moments provide lasting hurt. Many of us have scars that we see daily but will never reveal to anyone. We’re people. It’s really that simple.

Your pastor isn’t superman. He’s not invincible. He breaks. He hurts. He remembers every single one of those moments. Each of those scars he’ll carry to his grave. He’s not doing it for accolades or praise. He’s doing it because he cares. He cares for you. And sometimes caring means he has to say and do some things you don’t like. But we’re people. It’s really that simple.

It often isn’t what I was told it would be. But I don’t do it for me. And to be honest I don’t do it for you either. The real reason we carry these scars and walk with these weights is because we were called to this work. No other reason would be strong enough to keep us anchored this long.

You can question the outcomes or even the steps we take. You can dislike the way it makes you feel. But just remember we’re people, it’s really that easy.

I Fear We’re Insane

August 8, 2024 / / 1 Comment

It’s time to wake up. We’ve all heard that insanity is doing the same thing over and over, expecting different results. Yet, how often do we fall into this trap? We cling to traditions, methods, and mindsets that have long outlived their effectiveness, hoping they’ll somehow bring revival. Newsflash: They won’t! It’s time to wake up, shake off the dust of complacency, and start thinking bigger, bolder, and differently if we truly want to fulfill the mission Christ has given us.

The Comfort of Tradition

Tradition feels safe, doesn’t it? It’s that well-worn path we’ve walked for decades, the familiar liturgy, the same order of service, the predictable sermons, the tried and true programs. But let’s be honest—how much of this is bearing fruit? We’re too often wrapped in the warm, comfortable blanket of “how we’ve always done it,” forgetting that comfort isn’t the goal—discipleship is. And discipleship is not the same as pew sitting membership!

Here’s the hard truth: If we keep doing church the way we’ve always done it, we’ll keep getting the same results we’ve always gotten. And let’s face it, those results aren’t cutting it. Look around. Are our churches filled with the lost, the broken, the desperate souls we’re called to reach? Or are they filled with empty seats and stagnant faith? If we want to see change, we need to change first.

Don’t be delusional!

But we’re making progress! is a line I hear from time to time. Sure, maybe your attendance numbers are steady, maybe your programs are running smoothly. But is that the kind of progress Christ called us to? Or are we just busy maintaining the status quo, confusing busyness with real kingdom impact?

I don’t want to burst your bubble here but true progress isn’t about keeping the church doors open. It’s about opening the doors of our hearts and minds to new ways of reaching the lost, discipling believers, and transforming our communities. It’s about stepping out in faith, even when it feels uncomfortable and even dangerous, and trusting that God will meet us in the unknown.

If we’re not constantly evaluating and adjusting our approach, if we’re not willing to disrupt our routines for the sake of the gospel, we’ll find ourselves far from the vibrant, living body of Christ we’re meant to be.

If your goal doesn’t need God, it’s not big enough.

Thinking bigger isn’t just a suggestion; it’s a divine mandate. We serve a God who is infinitely creative, who specializes in doing new things (Isaiah 43:19). If we’re not willing to think bigger, to dream beyond our current limitations, we’re limiting God’s work in and through us. And frankly we’re dreaming man size dreams in a God sized world.

Ask yourself—and your church—some tough questions. What have we been avoiding because it feels too risky? What traditions have we clung to, not because they’re effective, but because they’re comfortable? What new methods, new ideas, new visions have we dismissed because they didn’t fit our comfortable way of doing things?

God is calling us to break free from the mold, to challenge the status quo, and to step into a new level of faith. If we’re not willing to do that, we’re not just stagnating; we’re disobeying the call to go into all the world and make disciples (Matthew 28:19).

One small step for man…

The unknown is scary. It’s like standing on the edge of a cliff, wondering if you’ll survive the leap. But here’s the thing: The church isn’t called to play it safe. We’re called to walk by faith, not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7). And faith doesn’t thrive in the familiar; it grows in the unknown. When those men stepped off the shuttle for the first time, it was the largest small step anyone could ever take.

Every time we choose comfort over calling, tradition over transformation, we’re choosing to stay small. But when we take a step of faith, when we’re willing to leave the safety of the boat and walk on water, that’s when we see God move in miraculous ways.

If we keep doing church the way we’ve always done it, we’ll keep getting the same results we’ve always gotten. But if we’re willing to think bigger, take risks, and to embrace the unknown, we’ll see God do things we never imagined.

The church doesn’t need more people who are content with the status quo. We need committed disciples who are willing to challenge the norm, to dream bigger dreams, and to step out in bold faith. Stop settling for the same old results. Start living out the kind of radical, world-changing faith that Jesus modeled.

Because the only thing that’s truly insane is thinking the church can stay the same and somehow, magically, fulfill its mission in a changing world.

Renovating the Church

August 6, 2024 / / 0 Comments

So it’s time for some tough love. The church is facing a crisis not because the message of the Gospel has lost its power, but because we’ve gotten too comfortable with the way we’ve always done it. Imagine the Church as a house. The foundation and framing—the Word of God and the core principles Jesus laid down—are solid. But let’s be real, some of the internal walls are blocking the flow, making the place feel stuffy and uninviting. It’s time for a renovation. Let’s tear down some walls, open up the space, and let the fresh wind of the Spirit breathe new life into our congregations.

Leave the Foundation

First, let’s be clear: we’re not touching the foundation. The Bible, the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, the love of God—these are non-negotiable. They are the bedrock upon which our faith stands. But just like a house built in the 1950s, our systems—the way we do church—need updating. We’re talking about moving some walls around to create a space that works for today’s world, which is vastly changing day after day.

We often do one of two things when we starting talking renovation. We mess with the foundation, which is NOT what we’re talking about. We are not talking about changing the structural elements of the faith. And we’re also not just looking at putting a new coat of paint on the walls or adding a few pictures and moving the furniture. The change needs to be significant enough to make a difference but not detrimental to the structure of who we are.

Outdated Systems, Outdated Mindsets

For too long, we’ve clung to traditions that no longer serve their purpose. Programs that once brought life are now lifeless. Ministries that once thrived are now just going through the motions. It’s like living in a house with a beautiful exterior but a cramped, dark interior. It’s time to knock down some walls!

When my family and I moved to our current home, we loved the outside. We loved the quality of the build. We loved the fact that it wasn’t a new build and had some great character. But we also knew that the way it was divided inside wasn’t going to work for us for long. The kitchen was pretty tiny and totally separate from all living spaces. You were pretty much in a dungeon when cooking. We like to entertain and this layout was not inviting at all. So we knocked out some walls. They no longer served their purpose. They were obstructions to a way of life that would allow us to welcome people to our home and have great conversations around food and fellowship.

I’m not going to tell you what walls need moved in your context. That’s not up to me. I don’t know your culture. I don’t know the values of your congregation. I don’t know the way the people in your community receive the best. What follows are a few ideas of some walls that might need to be taken down or relocated. Starting with a solid set of core values and extremely clear mission/vision make this process way easier! If this is something you need help navigating hit me up! I have access to some proven strategies that provide immense clarity and unity in a congregation when it comes to values discovery and a great way to look at vision.

Walls to Consider

  1. Worship Services: Do the times, styles, length of the services hinder people from connecting? Do you use language people understand? Is the message clear and concise when communicated? These are just a few questions to address when looking at the walls that our worship services put up for people new to the church.
  2. Community Engagement: The church isn’t a building; it’s a community or family to use a more biblical image. We need to move the walls that separate the people inside the church from the rest of the world. Host events that serve the needs of your community, be present in local schools, and partner with other organizations. Show the love of Christ in tangible ways. What parts of the way you approach ministry are hindering people from connecting to the life-giving message of the Gospel? Those walls probably need to come down.
  3. Discipleship: Sunday school is great, but it’s not enough. It’s time we create more intimate settings for discipleship. Small groups, mentorship programs, and discipleship triads can deepen faith in ways that a large group setting just can’t. Move the walls that keep people from forming real, authentic relationships. This is a hard one because for many congregations, Sunday School is the way it’s always been done. Asking a church to rethink their Sunday School approach is received like you just asked them to burn down the worship space. Sunday School worked when it worked, but is it still working? Maybe it is, and if so great! But if not you might need to take that wall down.
  4. Leadership: The old model of a single pastor doing everything is unsustainable. It’s time to move those walls and share the load. Empower lay leaders, encourage team ministry, and build a leadership structure that supports growth and innovation. Boards and committees often stifle the movement of the church locally. Tying decision making to meetings stops movement. Widen the lanes of authority so the people doing the work can make decisions. Which means we also have to let people do the work! Completely professionalizing the ministry has become a huge wall that is stopping the spread of the gospel in many communities. This wall is one that in many contexts really needs to be addressed.

Embrace the Change

I know mixing metaphors is a bad idea but I’m going to do it anyway. If someone in Texas needs a hole dug on their land, it’s not going to help them if I dig a deeper hole in Ohio. When we double down on the way we’ve always done it, it’s like digging a deeper hole to help someone far away. Instead of digging a deeper hole, we need to find a way to get to where they are or at least get them a better shovel so they don’t have to dig with their hands.

I know renovating a house is messy, inconvenient, and often frustrating. But the result is a space that feels like home—a place where people want to be. The same goes for the church. Change is hard. It will upset some people. But staying stuck in outdated systems is not an option. We must be bold, courageous, and willing to take risks for the sake of the Gospel.

Friends, it’s time for a renovation. The foundation is firm, but some of the walls need to move. Let’s create a space that reflects the dynamic, life-giving power of the Gospel. Let’s be a church that not only honors the past but also embraces the possibilities before us. The world is waiting. Let’s show them what a renovated, reimagined church looks like. It’s time to get to work.

Olympics My Two Cents

August 2, 2024 / / 1 Comment

Pretty sure just about everyone in the world has seen something about the opening ceremonies of the 2024 Olympics. It’s been quite the hot bed of controversy. But why is it such a big deal? Should we even care? And if so, what is the best way to handle it? 

Before we dive into the deep end of the pool, we need to set the table appropriately. Yeah there was a bit of a pun intended, sorry…not sorry. 

The main image of the ceremony that has really received tons of air time is what many have seen as an open mockery of the Last Supper by DaVinci. Others have explained it away as a visual representation of a festival to a Greek god of wine and pleasure. 

No one, except the planning team, really knows the full intent of the imagery. So to say it is for sure one thing or another is a bit of a stretch. However, we can do some quick research to find out which is most likely. I’ll leave that one to you. 

We’re going to play a bit of a what if kind of game with this one and just assume it was intended to be an open mockery of the Last Supper. Again, I’m not making accusations just for argument sake going to one extreme here. If it was intended to mock a bedrock sacred piece of the Christian faith, then what does that mean and how are Christians to react? 

I’ve seen a few different reactions. There are the silent ones who are just letting the battle ensue without throwing gas on the fire. Admirable to an extent but not sure this is the best option. Sometimes silence speaks to agreement.  

Then there are the extremes of the people who call themselves Christians. On one side we hear things like Jesus would have invited these very people to come sit with him at the table so what’s the big deal. While on the other side, there is vitriol and chastisement running rampant. 

Let’s look a little more closely at the opposing extremes for a response from someone who calls themselves a follower of Jesus. We’ll start with the condemnatory side that’s slinging some pretty harsh rhetoric across the table. 

While I do believe it is the obligation of the follower of Jesus to defend the faith system which they claim, I do not believe name calling, vitriol or slinging damning words is the way of Jesus. If we’re going to call out a wrong in someone else, we very much better make sure we don’t use a wrong to call out a wrong! This is at best a distortion of the way of Jesus. 

Jesus didn’t run around condemning the unbelieving world. As a matter of fact the people he spent effort levying judgment against were the self proclaimed righteous believers who didn’t live out what they taught. That’s the whole Pharisee white washed tombs exchange my grandpa liked to reference. This side of the argument is spending a lot of time sitting on some man made throne exhorting a message that was about grace and mercy and using it as a tool to bludgeon others. 

We are to call wrong…wrong. No question there. And when a fellow believer errs we are to call that out. But are we really thinking that people who don’t believe in Jesus are going to live lifestyles that mirror his teachings? 

Then there’s the other side of the table where there sits a group of hopefully well meaning people who also call themselves followers of Jesus. Unfortunately this group is also very much distorting the words and actions of Jesus. Here’s an excerpt from a social media post by someone who claims to be a pastor. 

But what I can say is that every single person at that table would have been invited to Jesus’ table. Jesus not only spent His time on earth with sinners, He invited them to the very table everyone assumes the Olympic table represents. Matthew was a tax collector. Peter was about to deny Him. Thomas was about to doubt His resurrection. Judas was about to betray Him. Jesus ate with them anyway.  Jesus was with “sinners” all of the time. In fact, it’s one of the reasons the church people hated Him and wanted Him dead.

At face value this statement seems to have some pretty deep truth to it. It punches the judgmental church folk in the face and tells them we should be more forgiving and welcome people to the table. And to an extent that’s exactly what Jesus did. But this writer stops woefully short of the way of Jesus. 

If Jesus just invited tax collectors and sinners to the table for dinner and sent them home that would be one thing, but that’s not what he did. When Jesus saw Zacchaeus, the famous little tax collector known for anything but little fraud, he called him out of his lofty tree and went to his place for dinner. So far it sounds like Jesus shared table with people the believing world didn’t want to embrace. This is where it gets interesting though. Jesus didn’t just hang out with a steak dinner and some wine at Zach’s house! 

We don’t have the fullness of the conversation but what follows gives us a pretty good indication that Jesus didn’t come to Zach’s house for dinner and tell him to keep on cheating people out of their money and living a lifestyle that was totally contrary to everything Jesus taught. Zach left this dinner a changed man. When you encounter the way of Jesus you don’t get up from the table the same way. 

Or take a look at the woman who was caught in adultery. The crowd of self righteous people was there to throw stones at her for her lifestyle choice. But Jesus halts the stoning and looks at the woman not with condemnation in his eyes but also not with eyes condoning this kind of lifestyle. He didn’t look at her and say oh you’re so beautiful keep cheating on your husband and sleep with every man you meet. That’s ludicrous! He called her to change her life – go and sin no more was the phrase he used. 

Look…Jesus calls people to repentance. He calls the believing and the unbelieving world to the same act of repentance. None of us are better than the other. All of us need God’s grace. 

So please if you’re claiming to be a follower of Jesus, then let’s do some soul searching before mouth spewing. I’m pretty sure the way of Jesus wasn’t to yell at people and belittle them because they didn’t believe in him. But he also didn’t excuse lifestyles that were contrary to what he taught. He loved people where they were but genuinely loved them too much to leave them where they were. 

Would they have been welcomed to the table? There’s a very good chance yes. But if they had encountered the real way of Jesus, they would have left that table different people. 

Two Key Questions

July 30, 2024 / / 0 Comments

There are two key questions that we all need to consider. We love to answer one but often fail to even consider the other. Now I could string this along and really agitate you but that wouldn’t be nice, so here are the two questions. Then we’ll talk about them.

Are we going to believe Jesus? And are we going to obey Jesus?

The first one seems to be the easy one. We don’t really have a problem with this question. We’ll read our bible and go to church. We’ll say we love him and value how much he loves us. We’ll teach the stories in the Bible to our children and read them to our grandchildren.

Believing in Jesus isn’t really a hard thing, especially for those who call themselves Christians. After all it’s kind of what being a Christian is about right?

I’m going to push back on that a little as we look at the second question. I don’t think believing Jesus is the crux of being a Christian. I think there are people who believe Jesus and yet don’t really get it. Believing is part of the equation but it’s not the point.

One of my favorite bible verses is from Matthew 28. It’s been called the Great Commission by church goers for centuries. It’s the passage where Jesus commissions the disciples and the church to make disciples. We split hairs over which words in the great commission are command style words, imperatives for all you grammar people. Is it supposed to be go and make disciples or while you are going make disciples? That’s a really good question but I don’t think that’s the point either.

One command in that verse is to make disciples. The rest of the verse is really about where and how we go about doing it. This is where we move to our second question – are we going to obey Jesus?

Believing Jesus is one thing, but obeying is a totally different ball game! Remember that great commission thing? Going into the world, make disciples of all nations…yeah read on just a few more words. Jesus goes on to say how we do this.

Not only is there this whole baptism thing, which we won’t spend time on here, but then there’s the next phrase. Teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you. It’s right there – obey. It’s not teaching them to know all that I have commanded. He didn’t tell us to memorize large chunks of the Bible, although that isn’t a bad thing at all. It’s just not the point. The point is to teach them how to obey what the Bible says.

Obedience to the message of Jesus is what the life of the Christian should be all about. And our lack of obedience to the message of Jesus is often what gets the church in some hot water in the world. Another way to say this is that people rarely have a problem with Jesus. It’s Jesus’ people who are the problem.

I have plenty of friends on Facebook who are pretty open about their stance against Christians. What I think is so sad is the things they’re upset about are things Jesus would likely be upset about too. So often the way we live out our belief is a turn off for those who don’t really know the heart of Jesus.

The question about belief is important. For sure you need to believe the things of Jesus! But if you’re going to say you believe it, then you had better start acting like it has made a difference in your life.

You can’t half way the Christian life. It doesn’t work that way. Jesus says in the book of Revelation that either be hot for him or cold against but lukewarm (aka halfway) is vomit worthy. Yup Jesus is NOT ok with the lukewarm Christian because they aren’t really his followers!

One place where I see this belief but lack of obedience on full display is when we judge the world around us while we have our own baggage that needs addressing. Jesus talks about that too.

He says that we should take care of the boulder in our own eye before trying to nit pick at the speck in our brothers eye. Look there are problems in the world all around us. There’s no questions about that at all! But if we spend time working on the way we obey the message of the gospel and the teachings of Jesus, then we won’t need to worry as much about what words we have to say when talking about our faith. They’ll just see it right there in full frontal form.

So the two questions we all need to address – Do we believe in Jesus? And equally important are we going to obey the teachings of Jesus? This is a really great place for the follower of Jesus to start.

Discovering Your Passion

July 26, 2024 / / 0 Comments

Let’s cut through the fluff and get to the point. If you want to discover your passion, you have to dive headfirst into the chaos of your own life. Stop waiting for some magical moment of clarity to slap you across the face. Passion isn’t going to stroll up and camp out on your front porch. No, passion is often more like a wild beast that you have to hunt down, wrestle to the ground, and claim as your own. Here are a few steps to track down your passion.

Get Real

First, quit lying to yourself. Stop pretending things are great if in reality you feel like life is sucking your soul dry. If you’re more excited about your coffee breaks than your actual work, it’s time to wake up. Be brutally honest. What makes your heart race? What lights a fire in your belly? Dig deep and face the uncomfortable truths about what you really want. This isn’t the time to be nice; it’s time to be raw and unfiltered.

Get Uncomfortable

Your comfort zone is your enemy. It’s a cozy prison that keeps you from exploring your true potential. Smash through those walls. Try new things, even if they scare the heck out of you. Take risks. Sign up for that salsa class, join a hiking club, or start that side hustle. The point is to push yourself into unknown territory. Growth doesn’t happen in the safe, predictable zones. It happens when you’re on the edge, teetering on the brink of something new and terrifying. You need to be comfortable with being uncomfortable if you’re going to live out your passion.

Embrace Failure

Get ready to fail. Seriously, failure is your best friend in this journey. Every failure is a lesson wrapped in grit and discomfort. If you’re not failing, you’re not trying hard enough. It’s been said that Thomas Edison failed 10,000 times before he invented the lightbulb. And WD-40 is actually the 40th try! Let that sink in. Success and passion are often found on the other side of failure. So, stumble, fall flat on your face, and get back up. Each failure is a stepping stone towards discovering what truly ignites your passion.

Listen To Your Inner Jiminy Cricket

You know the conscience in the Disney classic Pinocchio. Let your conscience be your guide. Well it’s time to cut through the noise of other people’s opinions. Everyone and their grandma will have an opinion on what you should do with your life. Sometimes you need to simply block them out. Tune into your inner voice, that gut feeling that tells you what excites you. It’s not always going to make sense to others, and that’s okay. This is your journey, not theirs. Trust your gut. You know more than you think.

Move Already!

Dreaming without action is just a waste of time. You can sit around fantasizing about your passion all day long, but if you don’t take steps toward it, you’re just blowing smoke. Start small if you have to. Read a book about something that interests you. Attend a workshop. Network with people who are already living your dream. Every little action builds momentum. Before you know it, you’re not just dreaming; you’re doing. Sitting around won’t move you toward your passions unless your passion is sitting on the couch? There’s no couch sitting games in the olympics so get up and get moving toward your goals! They won’t accomplish themselves.

Assess and Adjust

Regularly take a step back and reflect. What have you tried? What worked? What didn’t? Adjust your course accordingly. This isn’t a straight path; it’s a winding road with detours and roadblocks. Stay flexible and adapt. Passion evolves, and so should your approach. Keep refining your direction based on your experiences and insights. Regularly slowing down to see where you’ve been and what you’ve tried will help hone your approach for the next steps toward being who and what you are called to be.

Know Your Surroundings

Energy is contagious. Surround yourself with people who are passionate about their lives. Their enthusiasm will rub off on you. Seek out mentors, join communities, and engage with people who inspire you. Ditch the naysayers and energy vampires who drag you down. It’s been said that you are the average of the five people you spend the most time with, so choose wisely.

This is why people struggling with addiction will surround themselves with others who are farther ahead on the journey than they are. This is why people who want to get fit generally start in a gym. Being around people with similar passions is super helpful! But being around people any passion that causes them to get excited is contagious! Be careful you just might become and excited person yourself.

Never Settle

Finally, never settle for mediocrity. In his book Good to Great, Jim Collins says that the greatest enemy of great is good. Don’t settle for good enough when great is within your grasp.

Life is too short to live someone else’s dream or to half— your way through it. Demand more from yourself. Strive for excellence in everything you do. Push yourself to go beyond where you were yesterday. This isn’t a competition with the world around you. It’s a competition with the complacency within you. When you settle, you betray your own potential. Keep pushing, keep striving, and never, ever give up.

Discovering your passion isn’t a one-time event. It’s a relentless pursuit. It’s a journey that requires guts, grit, and an unwavering commitment to living life on your own terms. So get out there and unleash the beast within you. The world is waiting and it needs your passion.

Musings On Life

July 25, 2024 / / 0 Comments

This week I had the chance to sit shoulder to shoulder with some pretty amazing people from a variety of walks of life. Men and women from around the world who are doing the one thing they are most passionate about. And what made these few days super great was that we share the same passion!

You may not share the same passion as me and that’s perfectly fine. But I wanted to share some thoughts on living out your passion. A few things really jumped out at me this week as these men and women shared their stories. The one overarching thing that really hit me was that when we live out our passion we become passionate and it’s obvious!

Passions excite us. They get us up in the morning. They let us press through some pretty crappy days. They allow us to deal with some harsh comments from critics. When our passion is in the driver seat, there’s very little that will stop us.

I’m going to share my passion with you and then three things I learned from this gathering. Your passion is likely different and again that’s cool! But think about your passion and you can apply these same principles to your life as well.

Know Your Passion

If you don’t know your passion then that is where you have to start. What lights a fire inside you that just can’t be stopped? For me it’s church planting. I am a church planter in my heart. I think about it a lot. It excites me to see people get to understand matters of faith and grow in their relationship with Jesus. What’s your passion?

This week I had a bit of an epiphany. I realized that I kind of lost sight of my passion. I think I took my eyes off of it for a while and being around these men and women, literally from around the world, reignited that fire in my soul.

I want to see the world know Jesus. And I believe that to reach new people you often have to start new things…churches included. Coming out of this conference I regained some clarity on the power of passion. Do you know your passion?

The Stronger The Why The Weaker The Excuse

Know anyone who seems to have an excuse for everything? Yep super annoying! But there are times in our lives when we tend to make up excuses for things we aren’t super committed to pulling off. Not enough time. It’s too hard. I don’t have all the knowledge I need. I need more resources before starting. And the list goes on.

Here’s something I’ve learned. The stronger your reason why, the less power your excuses become. We’ll use a simple image that many have dealt with in life: living a healthier lifestyle. When I was in my 20s I wasn’t the most healthy individual. I tried the occasional diet but it never really stuck. I didn’t workout really at all even though I had a simple weight bench in my basement. I just didn’t have the motivation. I had a million excuses on why I just couldn’t workout today.

Then one day I had some blood work and found out that my cholesterol was more than twice what it should be. Sure my heredity was against me but so was my horrific eating habits. Yeah I was the two pop tarts for breakfast and a 2 liter of pop kind of guy in those days. Needless to say when the doctor told me how bad the cholesterol situation was, my why was elevated to a whole new level. I changed my eating, started walking and ended up dropping my cholesterol to a healthy level and losing 45lbs in the process.

When our why is strong enough, no excuse stands a chance! In my church planter heart, it’s not my desire to start a church that drives me but my understanding that Jesus is the only way. And I don’t want to see anyone not know how much Jesus loves them. No excuse holds water with that why.

Maturity Is Found In Replication

Ok so this one is a bit more specific to my church scenario, but there was a quote from this week that really hit me between the eyes. A church isn’t mature until it plants another church. That means there are a ton of immature churches out there! The one I pastor is among them.

Some might push back a little because they don’t have the same why or passion that I have. That’s ok. But here’s what I can tell you for certain! My why is big enough that even if you don’t agree, it won’t hurt my feelings and you’re not going to change my mind. It doesn’t mean you have to agree.

So there it is passion, know your why, and replication are three key musings going on in this old man’s noggin today. What are you passionate about? And do you know your why? If so let’s move!

Letting Go

July 19, 2024 / / 0 Comments

Life isn’t a continuous accumulation of people, experiences, and things. Sometimes, the most powerful and transformative act you can perform is to let go. It’s time to embrace the unapologetic power of letting things go, and do it without hesitation or regret. Clinging to what no longer serves you isn’t strength; it’s the very anchor that’s holding you back from sailing toward your greatness.

First, let’s talk about relationships. Perhaps you’ve heard the cliché, “People come into your life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime.” Here’s a hard truth: not everyone who walks into your life is meant to stay. Friends, neighbors, even family members can outgrow their place in your journey. Holding onto toxic relationships because of time invested or fear of loneliness is pure madness. The longer you grip onto a relationship that’s draining you, the longer you delay your own happiness and growth. Letting go of someone who no longer respects, loves, or supports you is a bold declaration of self-worth. It’s not about cruelty; it’s about self-preservation.

Now don’t get all bent here. I’m not saying you should drop every relationship that no longer serves you! Some relationships are just not good. Running back into the arms of an abusive partner is a bad idea. Constantly feeling like you have to apologize for your actions around that friend because they don’t like your approach might be an indication that the term friend is slightly overstated.

Next, consider your dreams and goals. I know this might sting a bit. We’re often told to never give up, to relentlessly pursue our dreams. But here’s the kicker: some dreams aren’t meant to come true. Holding onto a goal that’s no longer aligned with who you are or what you want isn’t determination; it’s delusion. It’s okay to change course, to admit that what you once wanted isn’t what you want anymore. It’s not quitting; it’s redirecting your energy to something more fulfilling. Letting go of an outdated dream isn’t failure; it’s a strategic retreat that opens the door to new opportunities.

Packrats beware, you’re next. Possessions, those beloved trinkets of the past. Sentimentality can quickly turn into a suffocating trap. Do you really need to hold onto that box of notes from a high school relationship that ended a decade ago? Or that piece of clothing you’ll never be able to wear again but can’t seem to part with? Letting go applies to just about everything, except the scrap pieces of lumber in my garage that I might need to use one day.

Physical clutter creates mental clutter. Your environment should reflect the clarity and freedom you seek in your mind. Decluttering isn’t just a trendy lifestyle choice; it’s a radical act of self-liberation. Let go of the past’s physical anchors to make room for the future’s treasures.

Work and career paths aren’t immune from the let go approach. Many of us stick to jobs that we despise or career paths that stifle our passion because of fear. Fear of the unknown, fear of financial instability, fear of judgment. But staying in a job that drains your soul is a slow death. It’s time to muster the courage to walk away from what doesn’t ignite your passion or align with your values. Trust that something better awaits. You owe it to yourself to pursue work that makes you feel alive, not just financially secure.

But wait there’s more! The most elusive yet critical thing to let go of: our past selves. We are constantly evolving, yet we often hold ourselves to outdated versions of who we once were. Let go of the mistakes, the failures, and the regrets. They are weights you don’t need to carry into your future. Each new day is a chance to redefine yourself. Shed the skin of your past and step into the version of you that you’re meant to be.

So whether it’s a friendship that has run its course, a job that just doesn’t feed your passion, even a piece of property that no longer achieves its purpose – it’s ok to let some things go. The test of maturity and strength is to know what to hold onto and what to let go. When you master this, you find some immense clarity and strength.

Letting go is not a sign of weakness; it’s a testament to your strength. It’s a bold assertion that you are worthy of more – more love, more happiness, more fulfillment. So, be ok with cutting the ties that bind you to mediocrity and step into the greatness that awaits. Remember, sometimes the best thing you can do for yourself is to unapologetically, unequivocally, let go.

Live for Praise, Die by Criticism

July 15, 2024 / / 1 Comment

In a world where likes, shares, and comments measure our worth, the phrase “if you live for praise, you’ll die by criticism” couldn’t be more relevant. The addiction to external validation is a modern epidemic, leading us to chase approval like junkies desperate for their next fix. Wanna know the kicker? The same pedestal that elevates you with praise will be the very same one that crumbles under the weight of the slightest criticism. It’s time to break free from this toxic cycle and reclaim our authenticity.

Look I get it praise feels good. It’s a dopamine rush that makes you feel seen, valued, and even important. Social media has capitalized on this by creating an environment where validation is just a click away. Post a photo, get a hundred likes, and suddenly you’re on top of the world. But what happens when those likes don’t come? What happens when the comments turn negative?

Living for praise is like building a house of cards when a tornado is coming. Every compliment adds another layer, making you feel taller and more secure. But the foundation is shaky at best. The moment criticism hits—and it will—the entire structure collapses. You’ve tied your self-worth to the opinions of others, and in doing so, you’ve given them the power to destroy you.

The Reality of Criticism

Criticism is inevitable. No matter how perfect you try to be, someone will always find a flaw. The internet is teeming with trolls, ready to tear you down at the slightest misstep. When you live for praise, criticism doesn’t just sting; it devastates. It makes you question your value, your abilities, and sometimes even your existence.

But here’s the brutal truth: if you allow criticism to define you, you’ll never break free from its grip. The more you try to please everyone, the more you lose yourself. You become a chameleon, changing colors to blend in, forgetting that your value lies in your uniqueness.

I’m speaking from experience on this one. Some people will be the first to compliment you when you do what they want you to do. But the second you challenge them, question them or do something that doesn’t benefit them directly – you’re in their crosshairs.

Be Real

So, how do you break free from this cycle? Embrace authenticity. Authenticity means being true to yourself, regardless of external validation. It means knowing your worth isn’t tied to the number of likes on a post or the praise from your boss or even people who call you friend. It’s about standing firm in your beliefs, your values, and your passions, even when others don’t agree.

When you live authentically, criticism loses its power. It no longer has the ability to shake your foundation because your foundation is built on self-awareness and self-acceptance. You will soon understand that criticism is often more about the critic than it is about you. People project their insecurities, their fears, and their failures onto others. Recognizing this allows you to separate constructive feedback from destructive attacks.

Authenticity is so hard to find these days. There was a whole social media platform built called Be Real. It failed miserably. Want to know why? The premise behind Be Real was that the app would notify you at random times in a day. When the notification went off you were supposed to take a picture of what you were doing in that moment so that you could just be real for your followers. No filters. No posed stances. Just you…real…raw…you! It didn’t work because people had a hard time just being real! So how do we overcome this epidemic?

Self-validation is the antidote to the praise-criticism cycle. It’s about acknowledging your worth and your achievements without needing external approval. It’s about being proud of who you are, not because others say you should be, but because you genuinely believe it.

Start by setting your own standards. Define what success looks like for you, independent of societal expectations. Celebrate your victories, no matter how small, and learn from your failures without beating yourself up. Surround yourself with people who uplift you and challenge you to grow, not those who only applaud your successes and disappear at the first sign of trouble.

Living for praise and dying by criticism is a choice—a choice to give others power over your happiness and self-worth. It’s time to take that power back. Embrace authenticity, practice self-validation, and build a life that’s true to you. Remember, the only approval you truly need is your own.

Side note: I’m a person of faith, so there’s another filter here that I lay over my self worth. My self worth isn’t totally dependent on my accomplishments. It is filtered through the person that God called me to be. If you’re not a person of faith, I don’t want to super impose my beliefs on you but would love to share how this premise has helped break the praise – criticism cycle in my own life.

In a world obsessed with validation, be the rebel who finds strength in authenticity. Praise may come and go, and criticism may sting, but your true self is invincible. So, stand tall, be unapologetically you, and live a life that’s not defined by the fickle opinions of others but by your unwavering belief in who you are and who you’re called to be.

Transparent Communication

July 12, 2024 / / 0 Comments

No time for fluff: transparency in leadership is the unsung superhero of the leadership circle. No flashy cape, no cheesy theme song, but it packs a punch like no other. Transparent communication might seem like a no-brainer, but it’s often shrouded in mystery, kind of like Clark Kent’s glasses.

Cloak and Dagger Leadership

Traditionally, leadership was all about enigma. Leaders were expected to have all the answers, maintain an air of mystique, and operate behind closed doors. Think of it like a magician pulling rabbits out of hats—except those rabbits were usually emails, vision statements, and anything else the leader was expected to have on hand. But here’s the kicker: this cloak-and-dagger approach doesn’t cut it anymore. Employees, and people in general, today crave honesty, clarity, and direction. For this, transparent communication is your only answer

The Naked Truth

Imagine your organization is a ship sailing through turbulent waters. Would you prefer a captain who gives you real-time updates or one who leaves you guessing until you’re knee-deep in water? The choice is obvious. Transparent communication builds trust, fosters loyalty, and creates a cohesive environment where everyone is in the loop. It’s like giving everyone on your ship a compass instead of just the first mate.

Unfortunately there are plenty of scenarios in our modern world where we only get a piece of the truth at best. This leaves people guessing and often assuming the worst. We’re dealing with one of these situations in the larger church body where I serve as pastor. There are some decisions being made behind closed doors and the details coming out are sketchy at best! It’s a great way to get the rumor mill started but a terrible way to get the organization moving in unison toward a common goal.

The Hilarious (and Terrifying) Truth About Transparency

Transparency isn’t always easy. It can actually be as terrifying at times. But the results are worth it. Let’s break it down a bit:

  1. Admitting Mistakes: Leaders, brace yourselves. Transparent communication means admitting when you’ve screwed up. Yeah, it’s embarrassing. Yes, your face might turn as red as a tomato. But guess what? The people around you respect leaders who own their mistakes. It’s like watching a cat try to jump on a table and miss—humbling, endearing, and ultimately relatable. People are more willing to follow a leader who owns up to their shortcomings than one who hides them. Jesus kind of called that kind of leadership white washed tombs – aka dressed up dead people.
  2. Sharing the Good, Bad, and Ugly: Transparent communication isn’t about airing all the dirty laundry for the world to see. Don’t go around berating yourself. That’s not the point. The point is sharing the good, bad and ugly moments of the organization. When we do this people are part of the solution not just observers to the problem. And instead of judgment, the people you lead feel valued and included. They’re not just passengers on the ship; they’re part of the crew. When you share both victories and challenges, it’s like hosting an organization-wide reality show where everyone has a stake in the outcome.
  3. Consistency is Key: Transparent communication is not a one-off magic trick; it has to be a consistent practice. Leaders need to be open and honest consistently, not just when it’s convenient. Think of it like maintaining a diet—not just salad on Monday and pizza on Tuesday, but a steady, balanced approach. Hiding the truth when it makes you look less strong is not transparent leadership. So if you’re in one of those lead roles take a little advice from someone who hasn’t always done it right. Share the information that needs shared, even if you aren’t sure if you should share it. Transparency beats a tactical communication approach in most every leadership scenario.

Breaking Down the Walls

One of the biggest challenges in leadership is breaking down the hierarchical walls that often exist within organizations. Transparent communication is like the wrecking ball to those walls. When leaders are transparent, they encourage an environment of openness where ideas flow freely, innovation thrives, and the people in the org feel comfortable voicing their thoughts.

This is where the real magic happens: transparent communication doesn’t just stay at the top. It trickles down, creating a domino effect throughout the organization. When leaders communicate transparently, it sets a precedent. Before you know it, the entire organization is operating on a foundation of trust and openness. It’s like a game of telephone, but this time, the message doesn’t get garbled along the way.

The ROI of Transparency

Let’s talk numbers for a moment. The return on investment (ROI) of transparent communication is staggering. According to studies, organizations that prioritize transparency experience higher employee/member engagement, increased productivity, lower turnover rates, and often higher conversion rates. It’s the corporate equivalent of discovering a secret level in a video game that’s filled with bonus points and extra lives.

The power of transparent communication in leadership is undeniable. It’s the superhero that every organization needs but often overlooks. By embracing transparency, leaders can foster a culture of trust, boost morale, and drive their teams to achieve extraordinary results. So, next time you’re tempted to keep things under wraps, remember: even superheroes need to take off their masks sometimes. And who knows? You might just find that transparency is the key to unlocking your organization’s true potential.

So, put on your (metaphorical) cape of transparency, and lead with honesty and clarity. In the end, it’s not just about being a leader—it’s about being a leader worth following.

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